Bolsonaro tried to illegally bring jewelry worth R$ 16 million to Michelle, says newspaper

Illegality

Bolsonaro government could have received the jewels as an official gift, but in this case, the goods would remain with the State, and not with the former president’s family.

The Jair Bolsonaro (PL) government tried to illegally bring to Brazil a set of jewels valued at 3 million euros (R$ 16.5 million) for the then first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro. The information is from the newspaper O Estado de S.Paulo.

According to the report, Bolsonaro tried to make a necklace, a ring, a watch and a pair of diamond earrings from Michelle enter Brazil illegally. The jewelry would have been a gift from the government of Saudi Arabia to the then first lady.

The items were found, according to Estadão, in the backpack of the military Marcos André dos Santos Soeiro, who advised the then Minister Bento Albuquerque, in October 2021.

The jewels were retained by the Federal Revenue at the international airport of Guarulhos (SP), because Brazilian legislation requires that the declaration of goods coming from abroad with a value greater than one thousand dollars be made.

According to the newspaper, at the time the jewels were removed, Bento Albuquerque wanted to use his position to release the diamonds. The scene would have been recorded by airport security cameras;

This Friday (3), to Estadão, the former Minister of Mines and Energy admitted that he brought the order to Michelle, but claimed not to know what was inside, because the package was closed.

Still according to Estadão, in the last months of his government, Bolsonaro resorted to ministries at least four times, in an attempt to recover the diamond pieces, but he was unable to do so.

Bolsonaro even sent a letter on December 28, 2022, on the eve of the end of his government, asking for the jewelry to be returned, but again received a negative from the Revenue.

If he wants to recover the millionaire jewels, Bolsonaro must pay the import tax, which is equivalent to 50% of the estimated value of the item, in addition to a 25% fine for trying to bring the objects into the country illegally, according to the report. . Also according to the newspaper, the Brazilian government could have received the jewels as an official gift. But, in this case, the assets would remain with the State, and not with the Bolsonaro family.

O Estadão stated that it contacted Jair Bolsonaro and that lawyer Frederick Wassef, who presented himself as a representative of the former president, said he would not comment on the matter.

*Wow

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